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« Small Screen MVPs: ill-fitting gloves, a sapphic Miranda, and more. | Main | HBO’s LGBT History: Girls (2012-) »
Wednesday
Mar162016

RPDR S8.E2 You're a Virgin Who Can't Dri---Who Can't Dance

Another week, 23 new pairs of high heels 

S8E2 "Bitch Perfect"
This week's episode was based around lipsynching an acapella production number a la the Pitch Perfect franchise - complete with guest judge who plays the lesbian rapper in those movies! Somehow Kim Chi doesn't know what Pitch Perfect is. As much as I hate it when the queens are ignorant about classic films and pop history, how does someone not know what Pitch Perfect is? It was a huge hit so very recently. 

Pros
• The "Cha Cha Bitch" mini challenge was hilarious so RuPaul, laughing it up, obviously chose the winners super randomly. It's best when everyone brings their A game
• The actual maxi challenge performance was a nice professional surprise - entertaining and lengthy
• Learning that Kim Chi is both a virgin AND 6'4"... wasn't expecting either of those things, tbh. 

Cons
• Chi Chi DeVayne thinking "New England" was overseas. Oh henny, no...
• Not enough Pit Crew. Really, can't they amp up their tiny cameo each week? All that time in the gym for like 30 seconds an episode?
• It was depressing to see Kim-Chi have such low self esteem immediately after winning the first episode. What can lift her esteem if universal praise from competitors and judges can't? 
• Acid Betty making it so easy to give her the villain edit is kind of annoying. Make it hard for the showrunners and editors to do the dusty-ass narratives!

Episode MVP
Thorgy Thor gave smart confessional, was always right, aced Frida Kahlo realness in the mini challenge, served disco era sass on the runway, and energized the main show with those dreads and that comedy. Basically she didn't step one single high heeled foot wrong for 90 minutes. How did she not win the challenge?

Episode Winner
Chi Chi DeVayne. Well, the upside down lipsynching and ghetto neck was impressive. 

Kindred Spirit Quotable

Gurl, If I had a dolla...

Movie & Pop Culture References
Mean Girls' Regina George, Peanuts' Charlie Brown, Sofia Vergara, Valerie Harper, Alma Awards, Good Times, Jayne Meadows, The Oscars, The Louisiana Purchase, Mae West, Frida Kahlo, Ann-Margret, JLo, Lonette McKee in The Cotton Club, Britney, Madonna, Liza Minnelli, Donna Summer, Donald Trump, Lady Sings the BluesThe Golden Girls (on Robbie's tee), Sheryl Lee Ralph and Dreamgirls, Xanadu, Solid Gold Dancers, and Pitch Perfect (obviously).

Revised Preference Order

  1. Bob the Drag Queen
  2. Kim Chi 🔻
  3. Derrick Barry 
  4. Naomi Smalls
  5. Thorgy Thor 🔺🔺🔺
  6. Acid Betty 🔻
  7. Laila McQueen  
  8. Chi Chi DeVayne 🔺
  9. Dax Exclamation Point 
  10. Cynthia Lee Fontaine 
  11. Robbie Turner
  12. Naysha Lopez

Bye Bitches.

Episode Grade
B+ 

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Reader Comments (16)

I would give this episode a solid A

1) I think Chi Chi was making a joke about New England being overseas, but then again, I can't be sure about that

2) Whew, Acid Betty is starting to make Phi Phi O'Hara look like Ivy Winters. Since she shows no sign of letting up, the question is, will she be an entertaining hot mess train wreck like Phi Phi or Laganja Estranja, or just a mean bitter cunt like Roxxxy Andrews or Darienne Lake

3) Best guesses for who Ru was calling 1) Willam - the Eddie Haskell of drag and just about my all-time favorite 2) Katya -- who seems to be everybody's best guess 3) Ginger Minj - this season really needs a big girl!

March 16, 2016 | Unregistered Commenterken s

Oh yeah, and three cheers for the Double Elimination. Two weeks of bleh lip synchs should not go unremedied.

March 16, 2016 | Unregistered Commenterken s

Mmm, Pitch Perfect 2 was a hit (at $287 million, it grossed about 2.5x what the first grossed), but not tentpole inescapable. If it were just a normal person, I wouldn't question them being able to miss it. That having been said? Pretty weird that a drag queen doesn't hear about a shockingly successful musical with a primarily female cast.

March 16, 2016 | Unregistered CommenterVolvagia

Thorgy has been my solid #1 fav since the Meet the Queens videos, so SAME. While I relate to Kim's shyness and dorkiness, her sad-sack edit seems so producer manipulated/exaggerated.

The "smell of brains" story from Chi Chi had me some kind of way.

Wait. You're not ready for Cynthia's cucu??

March 16, 2016 | Registered CommenterChris Feil

Chris -- i am not ready for Cynthia's cucu. I need more than a single catchphrase to be invested in a character. To quote the great Valerie Cherish

i don't want to see that

March 16, 2016 | Registered CommenterNATHANIEL R

I'm holding out hope that Ru is finally bringing back Porkchop. We've passed the 100 episode mark. Let's give the first girl ever sent home a second chance to shine.

March 16, 2016 | Unregistered CommenterRobert G

Nathaniel - Lol, I always have an irrational soft spot for the queens who are bonkers

Robert - I'd bank on the "returning queen" tease being a psych out. That cliffhanger's kinda weird to me

March 16, 2016 | Registered CommenterChris Feil

Thorgy's been my fave since MTQ as well, along with Bob. I'm okay with the fact that they're getting an early slow burn to more screen time (Bob owns Untucked, though) unlike Kim who it seems they're setting up for an underdog arc/finale triumph already. But still, it really does seem like every queen has *something* to offer that I can enjoy, which is a vast improvement from last year.

March 16, 2016 | Unregistered CommenterOlivia

Loved the episode, and Bob the Drag Queen had a hilarious read for a queen on Untucked (Dax, I think) who didn't know Greta Garbo.

March 16, 2016 | Unregistered Commentereurocheese

eurocheese - Naomi Smalls was the queen who didn't know Greta Garbo.

As for the 'returning queen,' it was Bob that said 'someone's coming back.' All RuPaul said on the phone was 'how soon can you get here?' Unless there was something else said that we didn't hear, it could just be a completely new queen that we haven't seen before.

March 16, 2016 | Unregistered CommenterRobMiles

RobMiles -- agreed. I think it'll be whoever was in 13th place this year. like a "reserve" contender.

Olivia -- i just didn't see it with Thorgy until this episode.

March 16, 2016 | Registered CommenterNATHANIEL R

I am SO here for Acid Betty. I don't care if she's a villain, she's talented, knows it and she BACKS IT UP. I'm rooting for Kim, Acid and Thorgy for Top 3.

March 17, 2016 | Unregistered CommenterAndrew Rech

Kim Chi looks great but she's not a performer. I won't be sad to see her eliminated. It's like...an actress can be pretty by can she act? If not, I don't wanna see her nominated for an Oscar based on iconography.

March 17, 2016 | Unregistered CommenterKaa

I think Acid Betty ultimately wanted her team to do well, but she doesn't know (or care) that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. I loved that Thorgy has no qualms calling her out on her previous reputation. Someone else pointed out to me that she took Michelle's challenge with grace, and I'm excited to see what she does with her eyes next week!

Willam is persona non grata with World of Wonder Productions, so it DEFINITELY won't be him returning on Monday. Boo-urns.

March 17, 2016 | Unregistered Commenterjakey

i'm rooting for kim chi to get near top three. she actually is a performer and she brings the looks. she probably won't win as she is not a "fierce" performer, not yet. she's already a star though. drag race is going to be a stepping stone for her.

i don't think the producers are setting her up for a win. she's being set up with a katya arc with an elimination episode that will be really sad and garner more good will for her outside the show.

March 17, 2016 | Unregistered Commentermcv

Kim Chi is totally getting the 'growth' edit, very intelligent and the performance aspect will come, I can totally see Snatch Game as her make or break moment. I love Acid Betty, it's good to have a villain on the show and at the end of the day she's been delivering the last 2 weeks so there's that

March 17, 2016 | Unregistered CommenterRami
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